NOTE: For your signature to count you must verify your email address through the emailed link. 

To: Twin Falls County Commissioners

Overview

Twin Falls County will soon decide whether to allow temporary use of the Centennial Park boat ramp to transport equipment needed to refurbish the Pillar Falls hydroelectric facility. This limited access would enable continued operation of a long-standing renewable energy source and help ensure that public recreational access to Pillar Falls can remain open. By signing, petitioners request that the County Commissioners approve this temporary access so refurbishments can proceed and public access to Pillar Falls can continue.

The Issue

The Pillar Falls hydroelectric facility was originally built in 1982 by a local farmer and today is operated as a small, family-run business. It has provided clean, zero-emission electricity to the region for more than four decades. With planned upgrades, it has the capacity to supply power to approximately 2,700 homes using eco-friendly hydropower that returns all water directly to the Snake River with no habitat disruption.

Because the facility is located at the bottom of Snake River Canyon, large equipment can only be delivered by barge. The Centennial Park boat ramp is the only viable access point and was used for the same purpose when the plant was originally constructed. Access to the boat ramp would be temporary, and the equipment would only require approximately 10 trips to deliver. Despite this, the county is considering denying use of the boat ramp for this purpose.

Community Impact

If refurbishment cannot proceed, Pillar Power Productions may cease operations and go out of business. Without the plant’s revenue, the company could no longer maintain the trails, repair damage, or afford the liability insurance needed to protect the company from any liability it incurs by allowing public access onto the private property.

Closure would eliminate a local source of clean renewable energy and result in the loss of public access to the Pillar Falls Trailhead—a cherished spot enjoyed by thousands each year.

The trailhead, beaches, and portage routes surrounding Pillar Falls are located on privately owned land that has long been made available for public recreation, including hiking, kayaking, and camping. Maintaining that access requires ongoing insurance, maintenance, and stewardship funded by the facility’s operations. Without those resources, public access may no longer be sustainable.

Pillar Falls is a well-known destination for residents and visitors alike, and contributes to outdoor recreation, tourism, and local small businesses such as outfitters and guided tours. Continued access supports both the regional economy and the outdoor opportunities valued by the Twin Falls community.

Our Request

Pillar Power Productions is seeking temporary, limited use of the public boat ramp solely to transport refurbishment equipment. Professional engineers have confirmed the ramp is rated to support loads well beyond what is required, and the company has secured a $250,000 bond and $1 million liability insurance policy to ensure that any unlikely damage would be repaired at no cost to the county.

We, the undersigned, respectfully urge the Twin Falls County Commissioners to approve limited, temporary use of the Centennial Park boat ramp so that refurbishment of the Pillar Falls hydroelectric facility can proceed and public access to this important recreational area can be preserved.

Sign this petition to support continued access to Pillar Falls and the preservation of a local source of clean, renewable energy. All concerned citizens are welcome and invited to attend the public meetings and make their voices heard.

Parks and Waterways Recommendation Meeting

March 2, 2026, at 6:00 PM

Twin Falls County Parks and Waterway Division

1234 Highland Ave

Twin Falls, Idaho

Commissioners Decision Meeting

March 5, 2026, at 10:00 AM

Twin Falls County Commissioners Meeting Room

650 Addison Ave W, 2nd Floor

Twin Falls, Idaho

Times News has done a story on this issue—check it out Here!

(The video featured in the article can be found Here)

Idaho News 6 has also covered this issue—check it out Here!

For more information regarding the Pillar Falls Trailhead, the Pillar Power Productions project, and the previous decisions of Twin Falls County regarding the operation, please visit the links below. 

Video of the Pillar Falls Trailhead​

News Video of the Pillar Falls Fire (2021)​

Historical Photos of Pillar Falls​

Pillar Falls Visiting Information​

Pillar Power presentation for use of Centennial Park boat ramp

Feature photo by Evan K. Bastow, via Wikimedia Commons, modified for use in this petition, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.